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1There was a man from the hill country of Ephraim; his name was Micah. 2And he said to his mother, “The eleven hundred pieces of silver that were taken from you, and about which you also pronounced a curse in my hearing,#Literally “In my ears” are with me; I took it.” And his mother said, “Blessed be my son by Yahweh.” 3He returned the eleven hundred pieces#Hebrew “piece” of silver to his mother, and his mother thought, “I will certainly consecrate to Yahweh the pieces#Hebrew “piece” of silver from my hand for my son to make an idol of cast metal; now then, I will return them#Hebrew “it” to you.” 4When he returned the pieces#Hebrew “piece” of silver to his mother, his mother took two hundred pieces#Hebrew “piece” of silver, and she gave it to the smith, and he made it into an idol of cast metal; and it was in the house of Micah. 5The man Micah had for himself a shrine,#Literally “a house of god” and he made an ephod and teraphim, and he appointed one of his sons#Literally “he filled the hand of one of his sons” who became a priest for him. 6In those days there was no king in Israel, and each one did what was right in his own eyes.

7There was a young man from Bethlehem in Judah, from the clan of Judah; he was a Levite and was dwelling as a foreigner#Or “alien” there. 8And the man went from the town of Bethlehem in Judah to live as a foreigner#Or “alien” wherever he could find a place. And he came to the hill country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, to continue his journey. 9And Micah said to him, “From where do you come?” And he said to him, “I am a Levite from Bethlehem in Judah; I am going to dwell as a foreigner#Or “alien” wherever I can find a place.” 10And Micah said to him, “Stay with me and be to me a father and a priest, and I will give to you ten pieces#Hebrew “piece” of silver a year, a set of clothes, and your food.” So the Levite went with him. 11The Levite agreed to stay with the man; and the young man became as one of his sons. 12So Micah appointed the Levite,#Literally “filled the hand of the Levite” and the young man became a priest for him; and he was in the house of Micah. 13And Micah said, “Now I know Yahweh will make me prosperous, because the Levite has become my priest.”